Pit stops in space to fuel future craft

IN A week when Boeing launched an experimental spacecraft designed to refuel an orbiting sister ship, it also announced plans for a multipurpose "space garage".

The Orbital Express, launched on 8 March, is testing systems designed to refuel a partner craft autonomously. Taking the idea a step further, Boeing last week also filed a patent application for a space depot that can refuel satellites, and also provide fuel, oxygen and water to crewed spacecraft like NASA's planned Crew Exploration Vehicle (US 2007/0051854). The depot would be big enough to provide a temporary "safe harbour" for astronauts whose craft becomes crippled, Boeing says.

Fuel, water and oxygen would be stored in easily replaceable cartridges, so avoiding the tricky task of pumping liquids between craft.

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